Minnesota: MNsure reports 12% (or 14%?) y/y enrollment increase

The official headline and lede from MNsure is impressive:

Record-setting 167,163 Minnesotans Used MNsure to Sign Up for 2025 Health Plans

ST. PAUL, Minn. — MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum today announced that over 167,000 Minnesotans signed up for 2025 health plans using Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace.

At the close of MNsure’s annual open enrollment period just before midnight on January 15, 167,163 residents had successfully signed up for private health insurance plans – a 14 percent increase over last year, which was also a record-setting open enrollment period. Sign-ups include consumers who are new to MNsure as well as current enrollees who selected a plan for 2025.

• Private health plan sign-ups: 167,163
• New public program applicants (Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare): 47,210
• Dental plan sign-ups: 48,670
• Percentage of households receiving tax credits: 61%
• Statewide average annual tax credit by household: $6,452

...however, once again, as happens every year with MNsure, it comes with a big caveat: I still can't figure out where the 167K figure comes from, seeing how the official exchange QHP total from CMS (last week, under the Biden Admin) was 151,513...and the official 2024 OEP final tally was 135,001.

MNsure has included small group plans and/or dental-only enrollees in the past, so that might explain the discrepancy, though I've never been able to get a straight answer about the annual discrepancy.

Depending on which figures you use, Minnesota's 2025 enrollment is up either 12% or 14%, which is still impressive either way.